OCR Text |
Show WASATCH CANYON MOUNTAIN C Troci REPORT Hansen Boeem ZG Se? “a Bill to Open Canyons to Development proposal by Utah Congressman Jim Hansen to sell public land to ski resorts could open up Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon to more real estate development. Hansen, who chairs the House subcommittee on Parks, Forests and Public Lands has attached the proposal to the federal budget in the socalled Budget Reconciliation Act, despite protestations from _ the National Ski Association, the trade organization for ski resorts. A spokesman for the ski association said the proposal caught the ski industry off guard. “We don’t even know what the tax consequences are,” said Sam Anderson. “We haven't had time to study all the consequences,” he said in a telephone interview from Washington D.C. Colorado resorts, for example, already have well-developed base facilities and do not necessarily want to buy ski terrain they already use by leasing. But Anderson said that remains an Open question. Earlier this year, the ski industry was successful in getting the legislation omitted Concession Bill, from where the Parks Hansen had earlier put it. But the Budget Reconciliation Bill is not the place for this bill, either, Anderson said. The National Ski Association doesn’t want to alienate the public by pushing legislation before it has been thoroughly discussed with other groups, Anderson said. It is unclear why the bill is being pushed if no one wants it. Recently, Republican law makers from Colorado and Wyoming came out against the Hansen proposal, which could spell its doom. But some observers say that if the Utah Congressman is not successful now, he may be later. Steve Hodapp, a committee staff member for Hansen, could not explain why the bill was going forward without support. He did say that it was part of an overall philosophy to divest the federal government of western lands. “The federal government owns too much and can’t afford to manage the lands it has,” Hodapp said. It seems clear from his public statements, however, that Hansen believes the Forest Service has impeded the growth and profitability of ski areas. Hodapp, though, maintained that the ski areas have a “sweet deal” by leasing Forest land at bargain prices. TIMES The sale of Forest lands to ski resorts could bring as much as $200 million. But resorts, apparently, are free not to purchase the lands. At any rate, lease fees from resorts bring an estimated $20 million a year. “This is not an attempt to sell off the public land,” Hodapp told The Wasatch Mountain Times in a telephone interview. “Should the Forest Service be managing ski areas?What is the real benefit to the federal government?” he asked. To quell some of the uprising from the proposal, Hansen included a provision access sold to But may be newly that “guarantees” CHUCK'S Buy/Preserve ns @: | support an active land acquisition and preservation program to give us control over our future. Growth Management: Park City should decide its ideal community size and how fast it wants to get there. | will incorporate this in our planning work. Trans tion: | will use Transportation Demand Management to reduce our congestion and parking problems. Environment: Our natural and mar-built surroundings are key to our public to the lands, should they be ski resorts. some fear the access question moot if resorts develop their acquired real estate. Tom success. | support stronger efforts to protect our environment. Regional Relations: | will work with surrounding counties and the state Berggren of Save Our Canyons says that such development would render the lands less than prime recreation areas. “What will happen inevitably is that our canyons will resemble Park City and Deer Valley — condominiums and single family homes up and on issues which affect our future. Let Me Hear From You! Call Chuck = 649-3368 PLEASE VOTE! GENERAL ELECTIONS NOVEMBER down the mountainsides,” Berggren said in a prepared statement. “Do we really want to commercialize entire mountains involved?” rivatization of canyon lead to impact on are heavily “There canyons, HUNTING the because Continued from page 12 the Utah bear population, he says. “Humans simply have to be more tolerant of them and we need a series of refuges to maintain the populations without hunting,” Gilbert said. When bears are pursued regularly in an area, the population is impacted, Gilbert contends. “They become completely cryptic and like street urchins. In turn, you have remnant and unhealthy populations. ‘If you make an animal fearful, it will withdraw whenever it hears or smells humans. The animal turns completely nocturnal and almost invisible and that really works against of the intense use of these areas - 8 million visitor days per year, which exceeds Yellowstone. None of these problems — parking, user conflicts, helicopter use, access, watershed protection, for example will improve as a result of privatizing these areas of the mountains, but rather, the problems will be exacerbated. No one has studied what the ramifications might be,” Berggren wrote. Planning in the canyons would fall to the Salt Lake County Planning Commission, instead of going through the Forest Service and the National Environmental Protection Act. “Salt Lake County is dependent upon the expertise of and involvement of the Forest Service,” Berggren said. “To provide reasoned, environmentally sensitive decisions about development in the canyons. Without the experts or budget, and without the use of Environmental Impact Statements, there is a concern what | that decisions not in the best, longrun interests of our community be made in the future.” @ UTAH’S 7! BEARS Is It Sport or Is ItA Shame? lands could significant environmental these areas that already used, Berggren said. are many problems in the in general, PLATFORM Community Balance: Residents are the community! | support tourism that fits in without overwhelming the community and encourage commerce when it serves residents and destination visitors. may PAGE most people want.” BEAR NECESSITY In Utah, most forested areas provide suitable habitat for black bears. Black bears, as well as grizzlies, regularly avoid humans but are attracted to odors from human and pet food, garbage, hummingbird feeders, lotions and repellents. Campers should keep all scented items packed tightly in cars or trailers or hung high and distant from camp sites. If you encounter a bear, don’t 15 assume you are safe. According to experts you should stand, not run, and wave your arms, clap your hands, or bang pots and yell. Move slowly away from the bear. If attacked by a black bear, experts say fight back, kick, scream and yell. Always avoid a mother with cubs. Bears are animals to hunt, hound, and kill or to judge as a hallowed, magnificent creatures with many human qualities. As John Muir wrote: “Bears are made of the same dust as we, and breathe of the same winds and drink of the same waters. A bear’s days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart-pulsings like ours, and was poured from the same first fountain.” A simple bear necessity is that many more people need to take an active interest in these creatures to protect their shrinking environment and preserve their numbers and vitality. @ Stephen W. Lewis is a Salt Lake attorney and conservation activist. |